Mercy Law Resource Centre CLG

Politician(s) lobbied: James Browne (Minister), Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

Intent: Seeking introduction of amendments to law and policy to assist victim survivors of domestic violence in accessing housing. Sought amendments to guidance for local authorities on dealing with victim-survivors of domestic violence; sought increased training of local authority housing staff in dealing with victim-survivors of domestic violence; sought introduction of legal mechanism to allow for removal of perpetrators of domestic violence from joint social housing tenancies. (Indirect lobbying).

Methods: Meeting

Politician(s) lobbied: Jim O'Callaghan (Minister), Department of Justice

Intent: Seeking introduction of amendments to law and policy to further assist victim survivors of domestic violence in accessing housing. Discussed: introduction of powers for Gardaí to temporarily remove alleged perpetrators from home to protect life of alleged victim; need for improved mechanisms for victim-survivors to remain in own home; need for mechanism to remove perpetrators of domestic violence from joint social housing tenancies. (Indirect lobbying).

Methods: Meeting

Politician(s) lobbied: Jim O'Callaghan (Minister), Department of Justice

Intent: Inclusion of social housing law and homelessness law matters within scope of proposed new civil legal aid scheme.

Methods: Event / Reception

Politician(s) lobbied: Marie Murphy (Councillor), Tipperary County Council; Amy Goldsboro (Councillor), Tipperary County Council; David Dunne (Councillor), Tipperary County Council; Michael Brennan (Councillor), Tipperary County Council; Mary Hanna Hourigan (Councillor), Tipperary County Council; Annemarie 'Shiner' Ryan (Councillor), Tipperary County Council; Siobhan Ambrose (Councillor), Tipperary County Council; Fiona Bonfield (Councillor), Tipperary County Council; Louise Morgan Walsh (Councillor), Tipperary County Council; Kay Cahill Skehan (Councillor), Tipperary County Council; Peggy Ryan (Councillor), Tipperary County Council; Kieran Bourke (Councillor), Tipperary County Council; Micheál Anglim (Councillor), Tipperary County Council; Mark Fitzgerald (Councillor), Tipperary County Council; Declan Burgess (Councillor), Tipperary County Council; Roger Kennedy (Councillor), Tipperary County Council; John Crosse (Councillor), Tipperary County Council; Tom Acheson (Councillor), Tipperary County Council; Pat English (Councillor), Tipperary County Council; John Fitzgerald (Councillor), Tipperary County Council; Phyll Bugler (Councillor), Tipperary County Council; John Carroll (Councillor), Tipperary County Council; Michael Smith (Councillor), Tipperary County Council; William Kennedy (Councillor), Tipperary County Council; Sean Ryan (Councillor), Tipperary County Council; Jonathan Cooney (Director of Services or Equivalent), Tipperary County Council; Sinead Carr (Chief Executive Officer), Tipperary County Council

Intent: Seeking an amendment of section 2.1.7 of the Tipperary County Council Social Housing Allocation Scheme to ensure that: (1) surrendering a tenancy because of domestic violence is never treated by the Council as a “voluntary surrender”, and, (2) victim-survivors of domestic violence who are forced to surrender tenancies to escape perpetrators are not further penalized by the Council through the imposition of deferral periods or otherwise.

Methods: Letter

Politician(s) lobbied: James Browne (Minister), Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

Intent: Mercy Law Resource Centre is a meeting with the Minister for Housing to discuss the report's recommendations.

Methods: EmailLetter

Politician(s) lobbied: Holly Cairns (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas

Intent: To share Mercy Law Resource Centre's experience with regards to lack of statutory appeals structures in the homelessness and social housing sectors in order that elected representatives are well-informed on the area, should they be minded to discuss the issue publicly or to plan reform in the area.

Methods: Meeting

Politician(s) lobbied: Conor Sheehan (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas

Intent: To increase awareness amongst members of the Oireachtas of the legal issues concerning social housing and homeless supports that arise in the context of families entering Ireland through family reunification.

Methods: Event / Reception

Politician(s) lobbied: Micheál Carrigy (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Richard Boyd Barrett (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Paula Butterly (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Joe Cooney (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Thomas Gould (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Rory Hearne (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Seamus McGrath (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Eoin Ó Broin (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Pat Casey (Senator), Seanad; Joe Flaherty (Senator), Seanad; Aubrey McCarthy (Senator), Seanad; Maria McCormack (Senator), Seanad; PJ Murphy (Senator), Seanad; Paul McAuliffe (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas

Intent: Pre-legislative scrutiny of any amendments to the Housing Act 1988 with a focus on compliance with human rights. Letter sent prior to appearance before sitting of committee discussing homelessness.

Methods: EmailLetter

Politician(s) lobbied: David Kelly (Assistant Secretary), Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

Intent: Notify staff of Department of Housing of challenges faced by clients, misinterpretation of Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011 by local authorities.

Methods: Meeting

Politician(s) lobbied: Conor Sheehan (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas

Intent: Provide context on barriers faced by victims of domestic violence in accessing housing.

Methods: Email